Strip-tinning device



May 5, 1959 H. c. THAYER, .1RY

STRIP-TINNING DVICE Filed yJuly 9, 1957 United States Patent 3 Claims. (Cl. 118.-211) This invention relates to strip-tinning devices and more particularly to devices having a pair of interlocked tinapplying discs mounted on shafts positioned;` above andl at anl angle to the level of molten tin or solder in a container.

A device commonly used in the past for applying tin or solder to a strip is provided with a pair of rotating applicator discs which lift molten tin from a container of molten tin and apply it to the strip as it passes over the container. One of the major disadvantages of such a -device is that the applicator discs must be positioned so deep in the tin that the shafts upon which the discs are mounted are completely submerged in the tin. In order to prevent tin from leaking out along the shafts where they pass through the sides of the container, an exceedingly tight packing is needed. Because of this tight packing, an excessive amount of power is required to rotate the applicator discs. The tight packing also results in excessive wear on the parts involved.

With the above problems in rnind, one of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a strip-tinning device having applicator discs mounted on shafts which are positioned above the level of molten tin in a container.

A further object of this invention is to provide a striptinning device having interlocked and canted applicator discs for applying a zonal band of tin to a strip.

With these and other objects in mind, the present invention contemplates a pair of interlocked rotating frustoconical discs which lift molten tin or solder from a container and apply it to a strip. The `discs are mounted on shafts which extend upward and outward from the container and which are driven by a system of gears and chains.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description andthe accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of the device showing the -arrangement of the mechanism for driving the applicator discs;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the device with a portion broken away to show the manner in which the applicator discs interlock with each other and engage the strip; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of a metal strip having a zonal band of tin applied thereto.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, a base 11 is shown supporting a container 12 of molten tin or solder 13 having horizontal supporting anges 14 and 15. Brackets 17 and 18 on the flange 14 rotatably support a rst shaft 20 inclined at an angle from horizontal (Fig. 2). Brackets 23 and 24 on the flange 15 rotatably support a second shaft 26 inclined at an angle from horizontal (Fig. 2). Inasmuch as the shafts each have a uniform diameter along the length thereof, each shaft may be moved longitudinally relative to the brackets. The force of gravity will of course -urge the shafts 20 and 26 toward each other.

An applicator disc 28 having a beveledy surface 29 and an enlarged boss 30` is mounted on the shaft 20 for engaging a portion of one side of a strip 31 to apply a zonal band 32 of tin thereto, the boss 30 engaging and supporting the strip 31. An applicator disc 33 having a, cylindrical recess for receiving the boss 30 on the disc 28 is secured to the shaft 26fand is providedl with a beveled surface 34 for engaging a .portion of the other sideof the strip` 31 toy apply a z onal band of tin thereto.

Each of the discs 28, and 33 extends downward into the moltenl tinvor solder 13 inthe container 12, as best illustrated in Fig. 2. A driveV mechanism 39 (diagrammatically shown in Fig. 2) is provided for moving the strip between the d iscs'28` and v33, the moving strip 39 Vengaging the surfaces 29.` and 34 and being supported by the boss 3l! onl the disc 28,.r Since the shafts 20 and 2,6 can .be moved longitudinally with respect to the kbrackets 17', 18,A 2 3 and; 24, the discs 28 and 3 3 f c an be moved closer together or further apart to accommodate strips 31 of Various thicknesses.

An electrical motor 40 mounted beneath the flange 15 is connected by chain 41 to a sprocket 42 mounted on a third inclined shaft 43 (Fig. l) which is supported by brackets 45 and 46 secured to the flange 15. A first bevel gear 50 secured to one end of the third shaft 43 meshes with a second bevel gear 51 secured to a fourth inclined shaft 53 rotatably supported by brackets 54 and 55 on the flange 14. Gears 57 and 58 on the shafts 43 and 53, respectively, are connected by chains 60 and 61 to gears 62 and 63 mounted on the shafts 26 and 20, respectively.

In operation of the device, to apply a zonal layer or band 32 of tin or solder to opposite sides of the strip 31, the motor 40 is actuated for driving the third shaft 43. As the shaft 43 rotates, the shafts 53, 20 and 26 also rotate, these shafts being interconnected by the gears and drive chains. Rotation of the shafts 20 and 26 causes the applicator discs 28 and 33 to rotate, thereby lifting tin from the container 12 and applying it to the strip 31 as it is moved between the beveled surfaces 29 and 34 of the discs 28 and 33 by the drive mechanism 39. The discs 28 and 33 can be moved closer together or further apart to accommodate strips of various thicknesses, since the shafts 20 and 26 are movable longitudinally in the brackets 17, 18, 23 and 24. After the strip is positioned between the discs 28 and 33, the force of gravity urges the discs together to bring the beveled surfaces 29 and 34 into engagement with the sides` of the strip.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of this invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. In a device for tinning a metal strip, a container for holding a supply of molten metal, a pair of flanges secured to opposite sides of the container, a plurality of brackets secured to the flanges, a pair of longitudinally movable shafts rotatably mounted on the brackets and extending downward and together over the container, a first disc rigidly secured to one of the shafts and having therein a cylindrical recess and also having thereon a beveled surface concentric with the recess for engaging one side of a strip to be tinned, a second disc secured to the other of the pair of shafts and having a cylindrical boss extending into the recess in the first disc for supporting the stgip and also having a beveled surface concentric with the boss for engaging the other side of the strip, said discs being partly submerged in the molten Patented May 5 1959.

. y 3 metal in the container, means for moving the strip between the beveled surfaces, and means for rotating the shafts to actuate the dises.L

. 2. `A device lfortinning a strip, comprising a container for holding a "supply of molten solder, a pair uofshafts mounted 'on vopposite sides of the container and extending downward and toward each other Vover the container, apair of`v discs rigidly mounted on the shafts and having beveled' surfaces contacting the molten solder for engaging opposite sides of a strip to be tinned, means for moving a strip between the beveled surfaces of the discs,

one' of said discs having a recess therein, the otherr said discH having av projection extending into the recess insaid one disc to support the strip, and means for rotating the shafts to actuate the ,discs to apply solder to the strip, saidgshafts being movable in a longitudinal direction for permitting. adjustment of the, distance between the discs to 'accommodate strips of various thicknesses.

3,. In a device for yapplying tin to a moving strip,la container for molten tin, a rstdisc having a frustosupporting said rst shaft at an angle to the level of tin'in vsaid container, a second disc having a frustoconical beveled side, a second shaft secured to the unbeveled side of the disc, means for rotatably supporting said second shaft at said predetermined angle with respect to the Alevel of the tin in the container so that surfaces on the beveled sides of the discs that are closest to each other are parallel to each other, a pair of drive shafts, means for rotatably supporting said drive shafts at said predetermined angles, meshing bevel gears secured to the ends of said drive-shafts, means for transmitting motion from said drive shafts to said rst and second shafts, means for rotating-one ofsaid drive shafts, and means extending from one of said discs for supporting a strip between said beveled sides.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATESY PATENTS i. 1,662,341 Schwarz Mar. 13, 1928 

